If you answered yes,
you’re not alone. If you answered no, you fall in the minority… but there’s
hope for you yet.

Worried that your love for
the intense pleasure and pain found within super hot chili peppers is going to
burn a hole in your stomach, giving you an intense ulcer?

It won’t.

That’s not how chili
peppers work. If they had this power, you wouldn’t be able to handle them
without gloves and you would have a damned difficult time swallowing them back
after your tongue disintegrates from eating them.

Since gloves are only
advisory and you have your tongue, presumably, you shouldn’t be worried about
ulcers – at least not those caused by chili peppers.

But, for the sake of
argument (the healthy kind; we’re not out to discuss politics or ruin your
relationships here), let’s talk about the need to protect your hands from the
burning flesh of chili peppers.

Understanding Capsaicin

The most important thing
to know about chili peppers is that they contain capsaicin. When this compound
comes in contact with human tissues, it triggers pain receptors, specifically
those that alert your brain to extreme heat and fire. Your brain believes
you’re on fire and sends signals back to that area that you’re in pain and you
should stop doing what you’re doing.

You’re not going to, of
course, because chili peppers are incredible.

Capsaicin on your hands is
different from capsaicin you ingest; the latter spreads through your system,
overloading your brain and causing it to release endorphins and other feel-good
hormones that help you deal with pain.

When you’ve only got a
touch of capsaicin on your hands, your brain isn’t so generous. You don’t get
the good high; you get a burning sensation wherever you touch yourself.

Again, this is a subject
area we’re not wandering into. But, we will tell you not to be an ass about it;
where the gloves and save the high.

Understanding Super-Hot Chili Peppers

Chili peppers aren’t
equal. We’re not just talking about the level of heat either. Obviously, you’ll
find more concentrated doses of capsaicin in hotter peppers… but you’ll also
find it in different parts of the pepper.

It’s not in the seeds
either; don’t let people tell you that.

Capsaicin in mild peppers
like jalapeños can be found in the white, pithy bits of the fruit. In super hot
peppers, like ghosts or reapers, it’s also
in the flesh of the fruit.

If you don’t want to wear
gloves when handling these peppers, you’re a damn fool. The higher
concentration of capsaicin spread across more areas of the pepper means your
hands (and whatever you touch) is going to hurt like hell. You’re not going to
get the full release of feel-good juices and you’re not going to enjoy the
flavor either.

And, yeah, we know it all
sounds a little dirty. You can make whatever innuendos you want. All we’re
saying is wrap it up; it’s the smart way to handle a lot of things.

Want the delightful burn of super hot chili
peppers without touching them directly?

The
answer, of course, is found in super hot sauces and we have the best of them.
No need for cutting or gloves.